SnowGlobe about to shake

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A "totally revamped" experience will greet an estimated 40,000 attendees to the second annual SnowGlobe music festival, which begins this weekend.

Last year's event was praised by business owners for bringing a boost to the South Shore economy, but drew plenty of criticism from residents rattled by the event's volume.

SnowGlobe runs from Dec. 29-31, with music lasting from 3-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 4 p.m. Monday to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. The concert takes place at the playfields near Lake Tahoe Community College.

Event organizers have taken several steps to help decrease reverberations to surrounding neighborhoods. Under the event's agreement with the city, organizers could face fines if the volume exceeds 95 decibels at the boundary of the playfields for a sustained period of more than 10 minutes.

The main stage will face the direction opposite from last year to direct sound toward less inhabited areas; speakers at the event's three stages will face toward the center of the festival grounds and the event's subwoofers will be placed on the ground rather than being suspended in the air, SnowGlobe founder Chad Donnelly said.

The concert will also get an assist from Mother Nature. Recent snowfall will create a barrier to decrease how far sound will travel, Donnelly said.

"We know that the snow will provide a buffer," he said.

Concert-goers themselves will be wise to buffer themselves from the elements, as the weather for this year's festival won't be quite as mild as the inaugural undertaking.

Highs are expected to be in the mid-30s with lows in the teens and 20s during the festival. Donnelly recommended waterproof shoes, as well wearing clothes that will keep heads and hands dry and warm, saying dressing appropriately is "paramount" to having a good experience.

Although the festival tilts heavily toward electronic dance music, Donnelly said organizers make an effort to bring in an eclectic mix of artists, with many artists new to the this year's festival - and some returners.